You Can’t Break Idris Elba

In our new cover story, the coolest man on the planet says why he won't be shaken from his master plan.

View in Browser The Idris Elba Effect When he tested positive for Covid-19 in March 2020, Idris Elba was in New Mexico, just about to start shooting a western called The Harder They Fall with an all-killer cast that included Jonathan Majors, Regina King, and LaKeith Stanfield. Jay-Z was producing and lending a hand with the soundtrack; Netflix was footing the reported $90 million bill. Elba posted two live videos on social media from isolation in Albuquerque—one eight minutes long, the other almost eighteen—and they are notable for their lack of the composure and breeziness we have come to expect from him. He seemed, as the British say, to be bricking it. No offense to Tom Hanks, but it was when Covid-19 went after Elba—a man credible as both Nelson Mandela and the Norse god Heimdall, tipped at various points to be the first Black James Bond, an actor who seemed untouchable—that this shit got very real. Elba, who is forty-nine, admits now that he sincerely believed his time might be up. But beyond the existential threat, he could see his world, which he had built from nothing, starting to unravel. The Harder They Fall shut down the day before it was due to begin shooting; no date was given for a return. "Having Covid at the time I got it, it was very, very early in its cycle," says Elba. "So it was like, 'Oh, shit, I'm going to die.' I could have easily been a statistic: went to a hospital and lungs failed and that's the end of it. Very easily. I've had friends whose families have died"—Elba snaps his fingers—"like that." Read the Full Story The 5 Dress Shoes You Need to Know in 2021 Agreat pair of dress shoes isn't just a worthy investment, it's a necessity. (Yes, even now.) Sure, sneakers have their place, but there are times when even the best of 'em just won't do. Whether it's a wedding or a funeral, a job interview or a meeting with the head honchos from corporate, some occasions demand footwear that's as refined as it is timeless. Although it's definitely been a while, someday soon the time will come to bust out the sweetest pair of dress shoes in your arsenal again, and when that moment arrives you'll want to be prepared. Read the Full Story Mark Duplass: A Portrait of a Man With Good Intentions Late last year, in the height of the pandemic, Mark Duplass and his wife Katie Aselton sold their beautiful Silver Lake house. A modern day mansion with a red wood interior. Chef's kitchen. Tub deep enough to drown a horse. He had recently finished filming a movie there, and afterward, the couple sat together and came to the conclusion that having a house that big and that gorgeous was silly. So they sold it and moved with their two daughters into something smaller. More appropriate. And then they took the extra money and founded a non-profit to help underrepresented people who don't have the capital to launch their own film or start up. On a Zoom call in late September, approximately 2,800 miles away from each other, Duplass lifts his dad cap to reveal a 40/60 salt and pepper split, shakes his hair a bit, and candidly says to me, "It was well intentioned. Is there some white savior stuff in there? Probably." Mark. Mark. Read the Full Story The Best Shearling Jackets Are Worth the Investment Sexy: The word that perfectly describes a shearling jacket, particularly if it's an aviator. When done correctly, the style has presence and commands a room. It beckons passersby to stop, stare, and, on occasion, blush. Ford, perhaps more than most, understands its ability to allure; since leaving Gucci and starting his own label, he usually presents at least one in his seasonal collections. It makes sense when you discover that the man is a Texan—one who owns a ranch, no less. He's a cowboy, so he gets how durable and insulating the material can be. But he also has the panache and swagger of James Bond, which means anything less than sexy just doesn't suffice. And it doesn't get any sexier than that combo, fellas. Read the Full Story The 2021 Esquire Grooming Awards How we groom ourselves will always reflect our times, and let's face it, times are feeling a little different right now. As we reemerge into a changed world, how we want to look is changing, too. We're embracing long hair or paying more attention to our laugh lines. We're trying new soaps and colognes because seeing people for the first time in forever makes us want to smell, well, fucking incredible. We're shaking things up because the only choice is to move forward. And we need new products to make it happen. Our team tested hundreds to find the very best, no matter what your look is. Because looking good feels damn good. And who doesn't want to feel good? Read the Full Story So Many of Andy Warhol's Factory Stars Died Young. He Knew What Killed Them. The artist cherished their youth and beauty and used it to make art that was ahead of the game, but the consequences were real and, occasionally, deadly. Read the Full Story Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection esquire.com ©2021 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019